Peachy Picks Nick's

We first featured Nick's in Terrific Takeout:
http://www.whomyouknow.com/2011/01/terrific-takeout-nicks-pizzeria.html


Then Tasty Tidbits:
http://www.whomyouknow.com/2011/01/tasty-tidbits-nicks.html


We are pleased to announce it has graduated to Peachy's Picks!  The phenomenal fare, the attentiveness of the staff, and the truth that we did not see one empty table all night are testament to the fact that this is a place you will wish was in your neighborhood, and if it's not, you'll go way up to the 90's on Second Avenue to get a taste.

The pizza is a masterpiece.  You know that from Terrific Takeout.  But the Peachy's Picks panel had to experience it too and it was a dream.  We could have written this whole review on how great the pizza is, but then we would not have been exploring the diversity of their menu.

We absolutely adore spinach, and the warm spinach salad is a hit with the shitaki mushrooms, dried ricotta and it's all tossed in a balsamic vinegar.  So healthy!  Just lovely it is a wonderful way to begin your Nick's experience.

A special starter of the night was the trifecta baked seafood.  Clams, sole and shrimp combine to form the Catholic equivalent of the father, the son and the holy spirit.  Peachy can say that cause she is Catholic and some days food is her religion...Just amazingly fresh and flavorful, this is something we did not expect to see at Nick's, and it is definitely something you should know about it if you love seafood as much as Peachy Deegan.  You are one lucky duck if it is on the menu the night you go to Nick's!

The chicken parmesean was absolutely to die for.  This was even better than the chicken parm at Boston College which Peachy absolutely loved in lower dining hall.  For those of you that don't know the food at BC was excellent: the fact that Peachy used all of her dollars showed that she loved the food and would become a food critic (other girls had about $500 left at the end of the semester.)  Peachy's never been fat either, just in case you were wondering.  This chicken parm by Nick's was gigantic for a single serving and just the right amount of mozzarella was grazing on the top, cooked perfectly through.  The sauce was rich and decadent and the decidedly casual atmosphere of the restaurant does not usually announce such masterpieces of cuisine but we are telling you: at Nick's, it does.  Both Demetri and Francisco were total professionals and told us all we needed to know about Nick's!  Peachy sipped on the Chianti Classico, and dessert was tartufo: just amazing!

Don't just listen to Peachy though.  The panel says:

It is a cold, cold winter so far, and sometimes it is hard to motivate to get out of the house. However upper eastsiders seem motivated to head out to Nick’s! Arriving for dinner at around 7pm on a Saturday night, the restaurant was bustling with customers despite the location being a current victim of 2^nd Avenue construction scaffolding…a sure sign that the food must be good. Inside Nick’s is warm and cozy. There are exposed brick walls, you can see the fire burning in the pizza oven, and there is a charming pressed tin ceiling. At the table there was a basket of delicious bread, both crusty rolls and foccacia with a tasty olive oil to get started. This is a restaurant where food is meant to be shared: orders come in “Single” or “Family” portions, and the single portions are quite generous and could be enough for two people. I started with “The Frankie Portobello” salad, which was a fresh green salad cheerfully surround by cherry tomatoes, lovely slices of parmesan cheese, and of course an ample serving of Portobello mushrooms. A wonderful starter! As Nick’s is known for pizza, our group ordered a pie to share and we were so glad we did! I am a huge pizza lover and am partial to the pies of New Haven; I would often prefer a good New York slice over more “upscale” fare. This pizza came fresh from the oven with a wonderful, bright tomato sauce, delicious basil on top that truly enhanced the flavor, and fabulous pepperoni, mushroom and fresh mozzarella. If you come here you must try the pizza, really - I am still thinking about it, it was that good! The menu offers a variety of traditional Italian pasta and main dishes. I chose the Orechiette “Rabe” & Sausage. 

The tasty bright green broccoli rabe was perfectly cooked and tossed with the orechiette, olive oil, slices of garlic, and hearty, flavorful slices of sausage. It was a delicious and comforting dish on such a cold night. Nick’s has a very reasonably priced wine list and I was quite content to sip a glass of Montepulciano. I always have room for dessert and chose the classic tiramisu. The combination of a light, sweet marscapone layer over a liqueur soaked cake was delectable. The staff at Nick’s was friendly and helpful, and our waiter Francisco brought our courses at a nice pace so that we did not feel rushed and could enjoy a relaxing dinner. Nick’s is a great place to gather with a group of family or friends for tasty Italian dishes in a comfortable atmosphere.

Nick's Pizza is a great place to come with your family or friends for a delicious Italian dinner. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the staff was very friendly. Nick's is a perfect place to escape the bitter cold this winter and have a wonderful meal. The meal began with an appetizer called Josephine's Eggplant. I highly recommend this appetizer! It was probably my favorite part of the meal. Essentially, it consisted of breaded fried eggplant with marinara sauce. The eggplant was cooked to perfection - juicy and crispy and wonderful! The sauce was the perfect complement. You could taste the fresh tomatoes! I absolutely loved it! 

 After the eggplant, came my main course, the Chicken Pizzaiola. Three huge pieces of tender, juicy chicken breast meat smothered in that amazing marinara sauce with sauteed onions, garlic, peppers, and mushrooms. Even though I ordered the single serving size, it seemed like I could have fed a family with the amount of food on my plate! Finally, after the chicken, even though I could barely eat another bite of food, came the cannoli. 

 I love cannoli, and it can be difficult to find cannoli that is made just right. The cannoli from Nick's was one of the best I have tried! The shell was light, crispy and very tasty. The filling was smooth and creamy with a hint of vanilla. I don't know the ingredients Nick's uses in their filling, but I do know they have found a winning combination! Despite my full stomach, the cannoli was gone in a flash! The perfect ending to a fantastic meal!  If you are looking to take your family or friends out for great Italian food, take them to Nick's Pizza!  And after your first meal, you may just become a regular!  The food is excellent, the service is friendly, and the atmosphere is full of energy.

I started off my meal with the stuffed artichoke.  It was enormous!  The artichoke was filled with a spicy breadcrumb stuffing.  It was very flavorful, and there was plenty to share!  After my appetizer, I moved on to my main course, which was the Spaghetti with Shrimp Marinara.  The shrimp was delicious and tender - cooked to perfection!  The marinara sauce was outstanding.  I have been to Italy many times, and this sauce tasted like a real home style Italian recipe!  This dish was another extremely large portion, and I had plenty left over to share and take home for later.  

Finally, came my favorite part of the meal - dessert!  The Lemon Sorbetto is a must-try at Nick's!  It was so refreshing!  Both sweet and sour, smooth and icy, it was absolutely perfect!  The perfect taste was matched by a beautiful presentation as well.  The sorbetto was actually served inside a frozen lemon!  This will be one thing you wont want to share with the rest of the table!  This meal left me highly satisfied and ready to plan my next trip back to Nick's.  Try it for yourself, and I promise you will not be disappointed!

Peachy Picks Nick's!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicks-Pizza-NYC/165012703511566?v=wall

http://nicksnyc.com/